Emerald Bay is an iconic location on Lake Tahoe. Located on the southwest shore within California, this California State Park, offers one of the most diverse grouping activities. One of the most popular activities at Emerald Bay is kayaking. The waters are flat and protected from the wind, so many outdoor enthusiasts come to Emerald Bay to kayak. Also, there is an island in the middle of the lake, called Fannette Island, that has a tea house on it.
Kayaking on Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe is free and open to everyone. You can access the water by hiking your kayaks 2 miles down to Emerald Bay Beach and launch directly into the clear blue water from the white sandy beach. To reach and explore the tea house on Fannette Island, the island in the middle of Emerald Bay, allot yourself 30-40 minutes one way for kayaking.
Read on to discover where to launch your kayak, how to kayak to Fannette Island, places to park for Emerald Bay, and so much more.
Hiking down to kayak on Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe during a gorgeous sunrise. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Where to launch a Kayak in Emerald Bay:
Emerald Bay Beach and Baldwin Beach are the best spots to launch a kayak for Emerald Bay. Most kayaker chose to launch at Emerald Bay Beach because this is the closest water access to Emerald Bay, however this launch requires a 2 mile hike (one way) to reach the launch. For those who would rather kayak more and walk less, launching your kayak at Baldwin Beach is the next best option.
WATER ACCESS TO EMERALD BAY:
Water access to Emerald Bay requires a two mile hike. So, if you are bringing your own kayak, make sure to bring a dolly or a foldable kayak so you do not have to make two trips. The hike to the water is downhill on your way to the beach and all up hill to return to your vehicle. NOTE: if you do not want to carry your own kayaks, there are some for rent at the beach.
Once you are at the beach of Emerald Bay, the launch is easy from a sandy beach.
WHY IS EMERALD BAY ONE OF THE BEST FLAT WATER KAYAKING LOCATIONS:
Emerald Bay is a protected bay on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. The waters are an emerald color, hence the name, and is protected from the wind. Surrounded by evergreens, this bay is a popular destination in Lake Tahoe, however few actually spend time kayaking on the blue waters.
Additionally, Emerald Bay has an island you can explore, by kayaking to, in the center of the bay. If you are feeling adventurous, you can cliff jump off the island into the crisp waters.
Another cool thing to do while kayaking the flat waters of Emerald Bay is to find the sunken ship along the south-east shore of Emerald Bay. This ship is a hot spot for SCUBA divers and free-divers. If you can find the red bouy, this marks the spot of the sunken ship in Emerald Bay.
Can you kayak to the island in the middle of Emerald Bay?
Kayaking to Fannette Island in the middle of Emerald Bay is open to everyone. On average, a kayaker will take 30-45 minutes to reach the island from Emerald Bay Beach, which is located inside of Emerald Bay State Park. Accessing and launching a kayak is free for all visitors, but parking has a fee.
When you kayak to the island in the middle of Emerald Bay, named Fannette island, you can dock your kayak and hike to a tea house built by Lora Josephine Knight. Knight was a widow who also had the Vikingsholm constructed as a summer home. The tea house on the island was her escape into nature and solitude. Now, the tea house only has four stone walls and a few open windows that attract thousands of visitors every year.
How Deep is the water of Emerald Bay?
The depth of Emerald Bay ranges from 10-60 feet deep. Because of this depth, and the surplus of sunken ships, Emerald Bay is an attraction for SCUBA divers and snorkelers alike. Many of these divers will use a kayak to reach the four dive sites throughout the bay, marked with a red buoy.
Where is EMERALD BAY in Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe is a large bay located along the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe in California. The most popular parking location is the Vikingsholm Parking Lot, or the Eagle Falls Trailhead.
Driving directions to Emerald Bay
DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE OTHER ADVENTURES NEARBY:
Kayaking on the clear blue waters of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, CA. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Now that you have discover where to launch your kayak, how to kayak to Fannette Island, places to park for Emerald Bay, and so much more, it is your turn to get out and kayak on Emerald Bay. If you have any additional information that others should know about kayaking on Emerald Bay, please drop a comment below to help others out. Additionally, if this blog was helpful, please help us by sharing this blog and/or leave us a comment.
